Workshop on 21st Century Bioarchaeology; Tempe, AZ - October 2019

Arizona State University, Scottsdale AZ

Investigators

Abstract

This is a proposal to fund a multi-day workshop to be hosted by the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona in October 2019. The goal of the workshop is to identify ways to facilitate research and education in this markedly interdisciplinary field that is assuming increased prominence in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Bioarchaeology exists at the intersection of biological anthropology, archaeology, and socio-cultural anthropology. Practitioners to date have largely been trained in one of these sub-fields, assimilating additional information on an ad hoc basis. The proposed workshop will focus upon creating a model curriculum across the relevant fields, while also defining big picture questions that invite bioarchaeological input. Problematic areas of methodological topics, especially those relating to research design and analytical methods, will receive in-depth treatment. The workshop provides a platform for scientific collaboration, the results of which will benefit those working to develop more effective methodologies and avenues for the dissemination of findings from anthropological research to promote public scientific understanding. Products from the workshop will be made publicly available. Discussion at the workshop will focus on key issues facing the field, both curricular and in research. Examples include: 1) identifying and implementing a desirable balance in training between evolutionary theory, social theory, and methods; 2) how to creatively and effectively deal with the osteological paradox; 3) the research balance between big picture questions and focused, contextually rich research; 4) statistical approaches to small sample sizes and integrating continuous and categorical data; and 5) the importance of outreach and sensitivity to perspectives of descendent communities. Bioarchaeology, profoundly interdisciplinary, has emerged as a productive and popular anthropological research and teaching domain. To date, there has been no encompassing consideration of the curricular and research issues that should be addressed in order to advance the field and to take advantage of 21st century developments from outside anthropology, for example, in biogeochemistry, epigenetics, statistics, public health, and other physical and social sciences. Funds support travel costs for a diverse group of approximately 40 participants in various career stages to and from the School for Advanced Research in Tempe, AZ. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.